Apparatus for replacing tubular lamps and the like which are difficult of access

ABSTRACT

The disclosure relates to a clamping spanner which is to be placed on the end of a control stick and comprises jaw halves which are forced towards each other by springs and which in the opened condition can pass a tubular lamp and in the closed condition can grip around the tube to above the longitudinal central axis, by a driving shaft directed transverse to the plane of said spanner and extending at least approximately through the pivot thereof, which shaft is connected, by means of a square transmission, to a coupling shaft extending at right angles thereto, said coupling shaft being rotatable from the lower end of the control stick when the spanner is placed on said stick, the driving shaft comprising means which are capable of engaging, with friction, a tubular lamp inserted in the spanner, and by two guide roller shafts which extend parallel to the driving shaft and which are each supported so as to be rotatable in the free end of one of the jaw halves of the spanner and which are provided with guide rollers capable of engaging the upper part of a tubular lamp inserted in the spanner.

United States Patent [1 1 Van Gerven APPARATUS FOR REPLACING TUBULAR LAMPS AND THE LIKE WHICH ARE DIFFICULT OF ACCESS [76] Inventor: Gerardus Wilhelmus Van Gerven,

Eindhavenseweg 56, Valkenswaard, Netherlands [22] Filed: Mar. 7, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 232,396

[52] US. Cl. 294/21 [51] Int. Cl. HOlk 3/32 [58] Field of Search 294/19 R, 20, 21;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,381,563 8/1945 Switzer 294/21 1,752,737 4/1930 Grinnell.. 294/21 2,573,002 10/1951 Foster..... 294/21 1,666,468 4/ 1928 Phelix 294/20 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 678,964 9/1952 Great Britain 294/21 3,776,584 Dec. 4, r973 5 7 ABSTRACT The disclosure relates to a clamping spanner which is to be placed on the end of a control stick and comprises jaw halves which are forced towards each other by springs and which in the opened condition can pass a tubular lamp and in the closed condition can grip around the tube to above the longitudinal central axis, by a driving shaft directed transverse to the plane of said spanner and extending at least approximately through the pivot thereof, which shaft is connected, by means of a square transmission, to a coupling shaft extending at right angles thereto, said coupling shaft being rotatable from the lower end of the control stick when the spanner is placed on said stick, the driving shaft comprising means which are capable of engaging, with friction, a tubular lamp inserted in the spanner, and by two guide roller shafts which extend parallel to the driving shaft and which are each supported so as to be rotatable in the free end of one of the jaw halves of the spanner and which are provided with guide rollers capable of engaging the upper part of a tubular lamp inserted in the spanner.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR REPLACING TUBULAR LAMPS AND THE LIKE WHICH ARE DIFFICULT OF ACCESS For the illumination of large spaces, an ever increasing use is made of luminescent tubular lamps, since these lamps, with the same luminous efficiency, consume much less electric power than filament lamps and in addition they radiate light which better approaches daylight.

Such tubular lamps are provided at either end with two contact pins fitting in adapted supports of the lampholder for the tubular lamp and serving both for the current supply and for supporting the tubular lamp. In order to place said pins in the supports or to remove them therefrom, the lamp should be rotated through approximately 90 around the longitudinal axis. Each tubular lamp furthermore comprises a thermal starting switch or starter which is accommodated in a cylindrical jacket which can be inserted into a support of the lampholder by means of a bayonet joint.

The said tubular lamps and starters have a restricted life and should be replaced at regular intervals. Moreover it sometimes occurs that the contact of the pins of the tubular lamps with the supports deteriorates, which can often be remedied by rotating the lamp.

However, such operations meet with drawbacks when the lampholder is secured at a comparatively large height or in a point which is difficult of access, in particular when the use of a ladder or travelling platform is impeded by machins present in the space in question, or is annoying or dangerous as a consequence of the resulting obstruction, for example in parking garages or in entries and exits of stores. There exists a great need for means to simplify the above-mentioned operations, which appears inter alia from a competition promoted in 1969 by the Werktuigkundige Studievereniging Simon Stevin at the Technical College in Eindhoven, in which it was the object in view to design a device for replacing tubular lamps and associated starters which were suspended at a height of approximately five metres. The awarded solutions, however, propose the use of hoisting platforms, so that the above-mentioned drawbacks are not avoided, while in addition the cost of such devices is considerable.

The invention provides an apparatus which is very simple of construction and hence cheap, and which is suitable to replace tubular lamps and starters also in extremely difficult conditions, while it can also be used to replace filament lamps, which is of importance, since tubular lamps and incandescent filament lamps are often accommodated in one lampholder for so-called mixed illumination.

For the purpose, the apparatus according to the invention is characterized by a clamping spanner which is to be placed on the end of a control stick and comprises jaw halves which are forced towards each other by springs and which in the opened condition can pass a tubular lamp and in the closed condition can grip around the tube to above the longitudinal central axis, by a driving shaft directed transverse to the plane of said spanner and extending at least approximately through the pivot thereof, which shaft is connected, by means of a square transmission, to a coupling shaft extending at right angles thereto, said coupling shaft being rotatable from the lower end of the control stick when the spanner is placed on said stick, the driving shaft comprising means which are capable of engaging, with friction, a tubular lamp inserted in the spanner, and by two guide roller shafts which extend parallel to the driving shaft and which are each supported so as to be rotatable in the free end of one of the jaw halves of the spanner and which are provided with guide rollers capable of engaging the upper part of a tubular lamp inserted in the spanner.

The driving shaft may be provided with one or more driving rollers which can engage the tubular lamp, but it is recommendable to increase the friction with the tubular lamp by using a number of elastically expandable endless driving strips which are each laid around the driving shaft or a driving roller provided theron and one of the guide rollers of a guide roller shaft, all this in such manner that a tubular lamp inserted in the spanner is seized on either side with friction by the inner surfaces of a pair of driving strips.

A hollow control stick is preferably used in the interior of which a driving shaft is provided which is coupled to a control grip, the control stick being constructed in particular so as to be extensible.

The invention furthermore provides an auxiliary member which can be placed on such a control stick and which comprises an elastically yielding lining fitting around a starter, said auxiliary member being destined to replace such a starter. A second auxiliary member is of a corresponding nature and comprises an elastically yielding pad which can be forced around a filament lamp or the like in those cases in which filament lamps have also to be replaced.

In order that the invention may be readily carried into effect, it will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are a cross-sectional view and a partial plan view, respectively, of an apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a simplified diagrammatic representation of such an apparatus with a tubular lamp placed in it to clarify the operation of the said apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional veiw through a control stick according to the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view through an auxiliary member for replacing starters.

The drawing shows a preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention. This apparatus consists of a spanner to be placed on a control stick having at its lower end a partially cleft sleeve 2 which fits on the upper end of the control stick and which can be secured to said stick by means of a clamping sleeve 3. Said spanner 1 comprises two jaw halves 4 which are rotatable around a common shaft 5, the lower ends of said jaw halves being forced apart by springs 6. The inner stroke of the upper ends can be limited by means of adjusting screws 7.

According to the axis of the spanner 1, a coupling shaft 8 is supported in the interior thereof so as to be rotatable, the lower end 9 having a hexagonal construction and being capable of engaging a coupling sleeve of the driving stick still to be described. The other end of the shaft 8 comprises a crown wheel which engages a pinion 11 secured to the shaft 5.

Guide roller shafts 12 are supported so as to be rotatable in the free ends of the jaw halves 4. As shown in FIG. 2, the shaft 5 which extends on either side of the spanner 1 comprises on either side of said spanner a single or composite roller 13, while the shafts 12 which also extend on either side of the spanner l, have similar rollers 14. Several strips 15 of an elastically expandable material, for example rubber, are laid across each roller 14 and the roller 13, for which purpose the said rollers may be provided with suitable grooves. As shown in FIG. 2, the strips facing one roller or the other roller alternate.

When a tubular lamp has to be seized, it is inserted into the intermediate space between the strips, the jaw halves 4 opening until the rollers 14 have passed the widest part of the tube. FIG. 3 shows in a strongly simplified manner how a tubular lamp 16 is held by the strips 15 and the rollers 14. The springs 6 should be so strong that the strips 15 expand slightly and the rollers 14 engage the upper part of the tube 16 so as to ensure a good frictional contact between the strips 15 and the tube 16. In the case shown in FIG. 3, the arc of contact between each strip and tube 16 is approximately 90.

When the coupling shaft 8.is rotated, the rotation thereof is transmitted to the shaft by the toothed wheels and 11, so that the strips are taken along. It will be obvious that the tube 16 will then also be rotated in the same direction. After a rotation through approximately 90the contact pins 17 of the tube are released from the corresponding supports, when said tube is placed in a lampholder, so that the tube can then be removed. A new tube can be placed in the lampholder in a corresponding manner.

FIG. 4 shows a particular embodiment of a multiple control stick according to the invention. It comprises a lower tube 18 which has a grip 19 on its lower side, to which grip a driving shaft 20 is connected which is supported so as to be rotatable but not slidable in the tube 18, for example by means of balls 21 which are capable of sliding in an inner groove 22 of the tube 18. On its upper side the tube 18 comprises incisions and is surrounded by a clamping sleeve 23, the driving shaft 20 having a hexagonal construction over a considerable part of its length, as is shown at 24. 1 FIG. 4 furthermore shows an extension for the said control stick which comprises an outer tube 25 in which an inner tube 26 is supported so as to be rotatable. The outer tube 25 fits in the interior of the tube 18 and can be secured at any desirable distance by means of the clamping sleeve 23. The inner tube 26 comprises on its lower side a coupling disk 27 having a hexagonal hole in which the driving shaft 24 fits, so that, when said shaft is rotated, the inner tube 26 is taken along. At its upper end the inner tube comprises a universal joint 28 which is connected to a coupling disk 30 via a tubular member 29, said disk also comprising a hexagonal hole in which the hexagonal end 9 of the coupling shaft 8 of the spanner 1 fits. The outer tube 25 is connectd, by means of a pivot 37 which preferably can be secured, to an outer sleeve 32 which surrounds the tube 29.

In this manner the control stick may be given the desirable length, it being possible, if desirable, to use additional extensions of similar constructions. When the spanner 1 is clamped on the sleeve 32 by means of the clamping sleeve 3 and the coupling shaft 8 is coupled to the disk 30, rotation of the grip 19 with one hand will result in a driving movement of the shaft 8 and hence also of the shaft 5, the outer tube 18 being held and the assembly directed with the other hand. Of course, differently constructed driving means may also be used.

FIG. 5 shows an auxiliary member which can be clamped to the end of the control stick instead of the spanner 1. This auxiliary member comprises a short tubular member 33 having a clamping sleeve 34 which can be secured to the sleeve 32 of the control stick. In the center of the tubular member 33, a coupling shaft 35 is supported so as to be rotatable, said shaft comprising at its upper end a sleeve 36 the interior of which is lined with an elastic lining 37, for example of rubber. This lining is shaped so as to fit around a starter for a tubular lamp with friction. In this manner, a starter which is present in a bayonet joint of the lampholder, can be removed and replaced. In approximately the same manner, auxiliary members for replacing incandescent lamps or the like may be constructed, in which a sleeve 36 adapted to the shape of the lamp or. a spherical pad may be used.

Such an apparatus may be slightly simplified by using, instead of the strips 15, a roller 13 which can en gage the lower end of the tubular lamp 16 and which has sufiicient friction to rotate said lamp. However, the construction shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is to be preferred, since this ensures a sufficient engagement with the tubular lamp in all circumstances and furthermore pro vides a uniform support of the lamps.

When tubular lamps are to be replaced which are present behind a transparent cover, auxiliary members may be placed on the control stick which enable the removal of such covers, for example, in the case of pivot able covers a rotatable spanner with which the locking members of such covers can be detached.

Many variations are possible within the scope of this invention. For example, several auxiliary members can be provided on a common head which can be placed on a control stick.

What is claimed is:

1. A clamping spanner apparatus of the kind which is placed on the end of a control stick for replacing difficult to access tubular lamps and the like, said spanner apparatus comprising,

two jaw halves movable between an open end condition in which the jaw halves can pass a tubular lamp and a closed condition in which the jaw halves grip around the tubular lamp above the longitudinal central access of the tubular lamp,

common pivot means connecting the jaw halves for movement between the open end and closed conditions and having a pivot axis extending parallel to the longitudinal central axis of the tubular lamp to be gripped,

spring means biasing the jaw halves toward the closed condition,

a driving shaft having an axis coincident with the pivot axis so that the jaw halves rotate about the axis of the driving shaft,

a coupling shaft extending at right angles to the driving shaft and coupled to the driving shaft by a square transmission and having a lower end engagable with and rotatable by the control stick,

at least one drive roller on the driving shaft,

two guide roller shafts each mounted for rotation in the upper end of an associated jaw half and extending parallel to the driving shaft,

each guide roller shaft having a guide'roller,

a plurality of elastically extendable endless drive strips extending around the driving shaft and the guide rollers for frictionally engaging the sides of the tubular lamp, the spring means having such a strength that the spanner is closed with elastic expansion of the strips until the guide rollers engage the upper part of the tubular lamp.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the driving and guide rollers comprise circumferential grooves in which the driving strips fit.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that each driving strip can contact with the surface of the tubular lamp over an arc of at least 90 degrees.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, including a control stick and characterized in that the control stick is hollow and comprises a driving shaft which cen be rotated by means of a driving grip at its lower end and which comprises at its upper end a coupling member which can be made to engage the coupling shaft of the spanner.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, said control stick having a first tube and a second tube axially slidable within the first tube to vary the length of the control stick,

first clamping means for clamping the second tube at a fixed position on the second tube,

each tube having an inner drive member,

a first splined connection between the inner drive members for accommodating axial sliding of the first and second tubes,

said clamping spanner driving shaft comprising an outer tubular member axially slidable on one of the first and second tubes,

second clamping means for clamping the outer tubular member on one of the first and second tubes,

said driving shaft also comprising an inner drive member, and a second splined connection between the inner drive member of said driving shaft and the inner drive member of one of the first and second tubes.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the upper end of the control stick includes a pivot having a universal joint and means for securing the pivot. 

1. A clamping spanner apparatus of the kind which is placed on the end of a control stick for replacing difficult to access tubular lamps and the like, said spanner apparatus comprising, two jaw halves movable between an open end condition in which the jaw halves can pass a tubular lamp and a closed condition in which the jaw halves grip around the tubular lamp above the longitudinal central access of the tubular lamp, common pivot means connecting the jaw halves for movement between the open end and closed conditions and having a pivot axis extending parallel to the longitudinal central axis of the tubular lamp to be gripped, spring means biasing the jaw halves toward the closed condition, a driving shaft having an axis coincident with the pivot axis so that the jaw halves rotate about the axis of the driving shaft, a coupling shaft extending at right angles to the driving shaft and coupled to the driving shaft by a square transmission and having a lower end engagable with and rotatable by the control stick, at least one drive roller on the driving shaft, two guide roller shafts each mounted for rotation in the upper end of an associated jaw half and extending parallel to the driving shaft, each guide roller shaft having a guide roller, a plurality of elastically extendable endless drive strips extending around the driving shaft and the guide rollers for frictionally engaging the sides of the tubular lamp, the spring means having such a strength that the spanner is closed with elastic expansion of the strips until the guide rollers engage the upper part of the tubular lamp.
 2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the driving and guide rollers comprise circumferential grooves in which the driving strips fit.
 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that each driving strip can contact with the surface of the tubular lamp over an arc of at least 90 degrees.
 4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, including a control stick and characterized in that the control stick is hollow and comprises a driving shaft which cen be rotated by means of a driving grip at its lower end and which coMprises at its upper end a coupling member which can be made to engage the coupling shaft of the spanner.
 5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, said control stick having a first tube and a second tube axially slidable within the first tube to vary the length of the control stick, first clamping means for clamping the second tube at a fixed position on the second tube, each tube having an inner drive member, a first splined connection between the inner drive members for accommodating axial sliding of the first and second tubes, said clamping spanner driving shaft comprising an outer tubular member axially slidable on one of the first and second tubes, second clamping means for clamping the outer tubular member on one of the first and second tubes, said driving shaft also comprising an inner drive member, and a second splined connection between the inner drive member of said driving shaft and the inner drive member of one of the first and second tubes.
 6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the upper end of the control stick includes a pivot having a universal joint and means for securing the pivot. 